By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Austin Gribble hit a pair of free throws with 13.5 remaining to give Calhoun the lead and the Red Devils survived a last second shot Thursday night to knock off homestanding Wirt County in the LKC Placement game for seventh place.
The final score was set by Ben Frederick's free throw with 5.9 remaining.
The Tigers had a chance at the end but missed a shot only to have Tristan Nichols grab a rebound and put it in. His shot, however, came at the final buzzer.
The game was close throughout with Calhoun, 10-8, leading most of the way however the Red Devils could only push the lead out to eight for its largest margin.
Wirt clawed back into the game and went on top 36-35 with time winding down.
But that was when Gribble was fouled and made both ends to give the Red Devils the lead for the final time.
Calhoun regained the ball moments later on Frederick was fouled. He hit one of two to set the final margin.
Dylan Heiney was the only Red Devil to hit double figures with 12, He also had three steals and a pair of assists and six rebounds.
Gribble chipped in nine and Zack Yanero eight to go along with his 13 rebounds. Ethyn Miller had six points and the same number of assists for the Red Devils while Dakota Jarvis added two and Fred3erick one.
Jarvis' biggest contribution, however, came in his defensive work on Luke Smith.
Smith, who had 33 against the Red Devils about a week ago was limited to 13. Wirt, 11-9, was led by Nichols with 16. He and Smith were the only two to hit double figures.
Drew Adams had five for the Tigers and Aaron Peter added two as they were the only players to score. Josh Ellison, Logan Kerby and Jon Hudkins all played but did not score.
Wirt County won the junior varsity game 45-44 but not without being faced by two great individual efforts. Trevor Carder had 21 points while adding five rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block. Also having a great game for the Red Devils was Nick Murphy with 22 rebounds and six points.
Sonny Wilson added seven points and four steals before fouling out. David Marks matched Murphy's six while Frederick, Levi Gregory and Hayden Richards added two apiece. John Long and Noah Allen both played but did not score.
For Wirt County Derrick Batton led the way with 16. The Tigers also got 13 from Justin Conley. Ellison with six, TJ Conley and Dalton Griffin with three apiece, Seth Suslik with two and Zakk Adams and Trey Craft with one each rounded out the scoring. Blake Batton, Trenton Burdette and Dustyn Holbert all played but did not score.
Calhoun returns to action tonight at Braxton County while Wirt plays Parkersburg Catholic Saturday.
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